The Microfinance Support Centre (MSC), in partnership with the Rukungiri Producer Cooperative Union, has distributed 1,260 hybrid pigs to 420 organised farmer groups as seed capital under its piggery demonstration project aimed at fighting poverty and boosting household incomes.
The initiative is expected to benefit more pig farmers across the districts of Rukungiri, Rukiga, Mitooma, Kanungu, Kabale and Ntungamo, promoting piggery farming as a sustainable livelihood and contributing to regional economic growth.
The handover ceremony took place on Monday at the MSC Piggery Demonstration Centre in Kasoroza Village, Nyakagyeme Sub-county, Rukungiri District, where beneficiary groups received three hybrid piglets each for multiplication.
Speaking at the event, the MSC Zonal Manager for the Kigezi region, Emmanuel Mbogha, said the project was designed as a deliberate intervention to tackle poverty in the region.
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"The Microfinance Support Centre, as a government institution, has a mandate to solve community problems. The biggest issue here is poverty in Rukungiri and other parts of Kigezi. As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, we identified piggery as a project that can directly benefit local farmers," Mbogha said.
He noted that since the project began, MSC has distributed more than 10,000 pigs and piglets to communities.
"Today alone, we are giving pigs to 420 groups, which brings the total to 1,260 piglets. Our biggest message is to change the breed in the region. The piglets we are giving out are hybrid, not for consumption, but for multiplication," he explained.
Mbogha added that monitoring and evaluation had shown positive results among earlier beneficiaries.
"The groups that benefited earlier are doing very well. The pig population has increased, and now the key issue is value addition. We are training groups to add value, and this project has already inspired similar initiatives in Mukono, Hoima and other parts of the country," he said.
Minister for Security and area Member of Parliament, Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi, who presided over the handover, commended MSC and the Rukungiri Producer Cooperative Union for complementing government efforts to fight poverty.
"As government and as the Member of Parliament for this area, we appreciate the efforts of Dr. Sam Akankwasa, the Microfinance Support Centre and the members of this union for supplementing government efforts to fight poverty and increase prosperity," Muhwezi said.
He described the piggery project as timely, noting that wealth creation remains a key pillar of the government's development agenda.
"This is in line with our manifesto focus on increasing household wealth. Dr. Sam is a very strong ally of government in promoting prosperity. If one pig produces ten piglets in three months, you can see how quickly families can build wealth," he said.
Muhwezi also emphasized the link between economic empowerment and security.
"When people are engaged in production and earning income, there is less crime and insecurity. That is why this union and its leadership are also our allies in promoting peace and security," he added.
Rukungiri Producer Cooperative Union Chairperson, Dr. Sam Akankwasa, said the project was initiated to directly empower members and improve household incomes across the sub-region.
"We are here in Kasoroza distributing pigs to our members. The union, in partnership with the Microfinance Support Centre, operates in six districts with the aim of promoting household income," Dr. Akankwasa said.
He revealed that the cooperative has grown significantly over the years.
"We now have about 300,000 members. Through this program, we have distributed over 18,000 pigs and piglets to the community. Each pig costs about Shs500,000, so this is real capital being given to our people," he noted.
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However, Dr. Akankwasa pointed out challenges affecting the project, including feed shortages and transport for extension services.
"We need support in feeds, transport and vehicles to reach farmers across the districts for training and follow-up," he said.
He urged beneficiaries to take good care of the animals.
"We encourage all those who have received pigs to look after them well, engage veterinary services and ensure proper feeding so that the pigs remain healthy and productive," he advised.
Beneficiaries, organised in groups, left the model farm with their pigs after undergoing hands-on training at the demonstration centre.
MSC and the Rukungiri Producer Cooperative Union say the piggery model farm will continue to provide practical training while distributing pigs as seed capital, as part of broader efforts to increase household incomes and stimulate rural economic transformation.
